Achieving a Balance: Four Challenges for Canada in the Next Decade – Managing Urban Spaces
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Although we live in an increasingly globalized society, local
communities -the places where we work, live, and play
– remain our most important sources of identity. The
place we call community is also overwhelmingly urban.
Within 10 years, 80 percent of Canada’s population
will live in cities, and 90 percent will live within
a few hours’ drive of the U.S. border.
Rapid urbanization has already led to a host of environmental
problems such as poor air quality and loss of green
space. Bad planning and design criteria have resulted
in urban sprawl, inadequate infrastructure, contaminated
sites, and loss of buildings with heritage or historical
value. Often, the adverse effects fall disproportionately
upon poor, elderly, Aboriginal, and young people.
Far-flung suburbs also have their hidden costs. They increase
dependence on personal vehicles and extended road systems,
leading to longer travel times, greater congestion,
air pollution, and a worsening of the climate change
problem.
To truly offer clean air, clean water, and access to nature,
cities need to adopt better planning in which city officials
and political leaders work with the community to promote
public transit, urban revitalization, and the protection
of urban green spaces. Using such planning has given
cities like Portland, Oregon, a competitive edge in
attracting new businesses, particularly those in high-tech
and knowledge-based industries.
There is a strong likelihood that investments that improve
the quality of life in cities, such as better transit
systems and clean water, will make those communities
more competitive in attracting firms and workers. The
federal government must take a more active role with
provinces and municipalities to support quality of life
in cities.
Community commitment to a vision of urban sustainability is essential.
So is strong political leadership. In some cases we
need to turn traditional urban planning on its head,
developing community goals first and then designing
the infrastructure of roads, sewers, and parks around
those goals. Inner cities too can benefit from rethinking
infill opportunities and the recovery of brownfield
sites, especially in needy neighbourhoods. We have an
important opportunity in the next 10 years to design
and retrofit our cities in ways that integrate and maximize
social, economic, and environmental benefits. The federal
2000 budget allocated C$125 million to municipalities
for “green” investments – a good start, but
the federal government should play an even more active
role in supporting projects such as public transit and
social housing. Cooperation with provincial and municipal
governments will be essential.
© 2013